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Biological Diversity Advisory Committee

Role

The Biological Diversity Advisory Committee (BDAC) is a ministerial advisory committee created under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). The objects of the EPBC Act include 'to promote the conservation of biodiversity' and 'to assist in the cooperative implementation of Australia's international environmental responsibilities', which include those arising from Australia's ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity  in 1992.

The Committee advises the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on 'matters relating to the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of biological diversity' (Section 505 of the EPBC Act).

The Committee met for the first time in October 2000.

The Committee replaces the Biological Diversity Advisory Council which advised the Minister on biodiversity issues before the EPBC Act came into force in July 2000.

Members

Membership of the Biological Diversity Committee lapsed in February 2007. The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources will appoint new members in due course.

Members are appointed to BDAC for up to 5 years at the Minister's discretion and are appointed to represent the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC)  , conservation organisations, the scientific, rural and business communities, indigenous peoples and the Commonwealth. Additional positions have been created to represent the fisheries and tourism sectors and Local Government.

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee were adopted by the Committee at their first meeting in October 2000. They are:

'to advise:

• the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on:
  • the performance of Australian Government programs in promoting biodiversity conservation;
  • means to promote biodiversity conservation through improved business practices; and
• the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) [now the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) ] on:
  • priorities for action under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity.'

Meetings and Communiques

The Biological Diversity Advisory Committee generally meets three times a year as well as conducting occasional workshops, conferences and forums.

BDAC has achieved some important outcomes for the conservation of Australia's biological diversity. Some examples include:

• driving the Australian Government's climate change and biodiversity agenda;
• providing advice in relation to The 2004-2007 National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan (the Action Plan);
• providing specialist advice into the review of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, the review of the National Weeds Strategy and the National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation; and
• advice on funding and assessment criteria for Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Programme.

To learn more about the Committee's activities please read the communiqués below.

Communiques

• BDAC Meeting 16 and NBS Communique: 20-21 November 2006 and 25 January 2007 (PDF - 22 KB)
• BDAC Meeting 15 Communique: 11-12 April 2006 (PDF - 17 KB)
• BDAC Meeting 13 Communique: 5-6 April 2005 (PDF - 24 KB)
• BDAC Meeting 12 Communique: 18-19 May 2004 (PDF - 85 KB)

Papers and publications

Climate Change and Invasive Species – A review of interactions

On 20 November 2006 the Biological Diversity Advisory held a one day workshop in Canberra on the impacts of climate change and invasive species on biodiversity. Eight talks were given, followed by a session of free discussion. Attendees were experts from government departments, universities, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and cooperative research centres. This report is based upon workshop discussions, and incorporates recent research findings.

• Climate Change and Invasive Species – A review of interactions

Conservation Incentive Design - Key elements of biodiversity incentive design and implementation

Produced by CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems in consultation with the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee, this report outlines case studies from around Australia outlining key elements of incentive design and implementation, and an analysis of the case studies against the key elements.

• Conservation Incentive Design - Key elements of biodiversity incentive design and implementation

Scoping Paper - Economic Value of Biodiversity

On 22-23 October 2003, a national workshop on the Economic Value of Biodiversity was held in Melbourne. The scoping paper was the background paper for the Workshop, which focused on issues relating to the economic valuation of biodiversity, key messages, Australian case studies and the current state of work in Australia.

• Scoping Paper - Economic Value of Biodiversity

Making Economic Valuation Work For Biodiversity Conservation

This booklet explores what economic valuation techniques can contribute to biodiversity conservation. It draws on the national workshop held in 2003 and asks why:

• biodiversity valuation techniques are not more widely used in the decision-making process;
• explores how they can be made more accessible for decision-makers; and
• provides some practical recommendations for decision-makers economists, and ecologists.

This booklet reviews the use of economic techniques for valuing biodiversity and is illustrated by Australian case studies. These show that despite some shortcomings there remains untapped potential, especially for the use of revealed preference techniques e.g. production function and hedonic pricing, to aid decision-making.

• Making Economic Valuation Work For Biodiversity Conservation booklet

Secretariat

Secretariat services are provided by staff in the Natural Resource Management Branch of the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.

You can contact the Committee through the Secretariat:

Secretariat
Biological Diversity Advisory Committee
Nature Resources Policy Section
Biodiversity Conservation Branch
Department of the Environment and Water Resources
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601

See also

• Threatened Species Scientific Committee
• Indigenous Advisory Committee
• Natural Heritage Trust Advisory Committee 
• Australian Landcare Council 
• Biodiversity Publications